Seven Deadly Zoom Sins — Are You Guilty?

As video producer, online educator and creator of the Crappy Childhood Fairy YouTube series, Anna Runkle, shared on a recent episode of the CommunicationsCzar Podcast, Zoom sinners are everywhere!

It’s time for you to examine your conscience and think, “how many of these sins did I commit today?”

1. Exposing your nose hairs. No matter how attractive your mother thinks you are, I would bet that even she doesn’t want to see your nose hairs. So, why are you showing them off every time you have a teleconference? If you are using a laptop, I can pretty much guarantee that the camera is angled up your nose. Avoid this awkward exhibition by raising the camera to eye level or above. You don’t need to rush over to Amazon to order a fancy stand. All you need is a box to set your laptop or monitor on. Your whole face should fill the screen, and you should be able to see the top of your head.

2. Being a bird instead of a lion. This is a concept that I know well from working in corporate speech training, but prior to talking with Anna, I failed to translate it to the world of the teleconference. When I am helping people develop compelling speeches, I often invoke the law of the jungle to help them understand the importance of developing a confident physical presence. Think about it: The lion can, and does, roam the jungle freely because he is at the top of the food chain. The little bird, conversely, works hard to remain unnoticed lest he turn into a quick snack for one of his many predators. Applying this logic to Zoom, you want to fill what Anna calls your “Brady Bunch Box.” Be the lion. Move your camera close enough to your face that you fill up your square.

3. Looking naked. While a V-neck may look flattering in person, low necklines tend to make you look naked on Zoom. Instead, opt for a higher neckline with a collar to make a crisp, professional impression. While you’re at it, forgo wrinkly fabrics and logos as well; you don’t want your appearance to undermine your message.

4. Talking in the shadows. Yes, natural light makes you look better on camera, but make sure it is facing you, not backlighting you. Light that comes from behind will turn you into a silhouette and make you look like you are lurking in the shadows. You should also make sure that your light source evenly illuminates both sides of your face so the other people on your call can see your eyes and facial expressions. If you are in need of more flattering light in your workspace, you can purchase a desktop ring light from Amazon for less than $25.

5. Taking us on a roller coaster ride. If you need to move from room to room while on a Zoom call, please turn off your camera before you start walking around. Nothing makes participants queasier than watching someone walk around their house with their camera on, especially if they are talking at the same time. If the participants are watching you in Speaker View, they may feel like they are on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride at Disneyland instead of in a Zoom meeting.

6. Ghosting. If you are someone who wears makeup, however frequently, wear makeup on your calls! Zoom tends to wash out your face, which makes your features undefined. You want your eyes and mouth to be noticeable while you are speaking, so wear mascara and lipstick to hold your audience’s attention. If you want to be next-level fabulous, make sure your teeth and the whites of your eyes stand out. Use a whitening product on your teeth, and put a few drops of Bausch and Lomb Lumify in your eyes to “treat ocular redness.” Translation: Replace the post-all-nighter bloodshot look with bright eyes and whites that pop.

7. Pay attention to your background. Now that you have elevated your camera and your face is filling most of the box, there shouldn’t be too much showing in the background, but you still want to give some thought to what is behind you. Always check yourself in your computer’s camera before joining meetings, and make sure your background is clutter-free and professional. Resist the temptation of using one of the fake Zoom backgrounds–the quality is poor, and you will look pixelated when you move around. You should also avoid having anything moving in the background, such as children, pets, and curtains. Attention follows movement before it follows sound, so the other participants in your meeting will end up focusing more on your cat sauntering by than your words of wisdom. Save the cameos from your kids and pets for YouTube so that you can command all the attention you need on Zoom.

Roseann Galvan is a corporate speech coach and consultant and the host of the CommunicationsCzar podcast. She can be reached at: roseann@communicationsczar.com